Neck seal for artificial respirators



Nov. 14, 1 944.

L. SCHLOBOHM ET AL NECK SEAL FOR ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 14, 1942 WWW - Nov. 14, 1944. 1,. SCHkOBOHMETAL- 2,332,935

NECK SEAL FOR ARTIFICI A'L RESPIRATORS Filed Julyil4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 be understood that it is applicable NECK SEAL FOR ,Anrmromnacsrrnar its Ludwig Schlobohm and Ale-.54. Farr-ai assignors to. The Van Dorn Cleveland, Ohio, 4 a corporaland, Ohio, Works Company, tion of Ohio Cleve Iron Application July.14, 1942, Serial No. 450,882

2 Claims. (o1. 1zs-2s) This invention-relates to neck seals for artificial respirators of the general type shown in a copending application, 18, 1942, and, among other objects, aims to provide an inflatable collar or tubular seal associated with a flexible. diaphragm in the head opening of the respirator. The ideais to provide a seal similar to the inner tube of, a pneumatic tire which can be inflated very quickly after the patients head deflated tube, to thereby prevent the escape of air from the body chamber of the respirator. Another aim is to provide a neck seal tube of this type having provision for deflation to permit the quick removal of the patient.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification, when considered in connection with the accompanyingv drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side Fig.2 is a front the respirator;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line' 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the improved neck seal is shown as being applied elevation of a respirator;

to a portable respirator illustrated generally in Fig. 1, and which is similar to that shown in the aforesaid copending application; although it will to other forms to refer to all of respirators. It is not necessary is inserted through the elevation of the neck seal of v close on the patient and then Ser. No. 447,559, filed June tion having an annular fin of the details of the respirator shown. It is sufflcient to state that it embodies a portable casing l0 having an upper body chamber which is covered by a semi-cylindrical hood ll hinged, to one side of the casing. hood carries a body receiving diaphragm [-2 and a supporting table I3- is shown as being removably mounted on the port the body of a patient. A head rest i4 is adjustably and removably mounted on the front wall of the casing. The upper end of the casing likewise carries a body supporting pad (not shown), so that a patient chamber when the hood I I is raised, as explainedin the copending application.

In this instance, the front end of the hood I! has a metal wall l5 within which there is provided a rectangular opening l6 extending through its lower edge so that the hood can be closed over the patients body before the neck seal is applied. Incidentally, provision may be made by means of a slotted opening in the body The back side of the may be placed in the diaphragm 12 to permit the body diaphragm to be adjusted.

. Referring to Fig. 3,'there is shown a gasket frame I! carrying a rubber or other deformable gasket l8 adapted to be compressed against the front face or wall l5 of the casing. The is carried by a pair of sponge rubber diaphragms !9 which are clamped to the gasket frame l1 by angle members 20 and studbolts 2| projecting outwardly from the channel frames l'l carrying the gaskets.

The sponge rubber diaphragms IS a rigid metal frame structure adapted to be clamped against the front wall of the casing by means of opposed hand clamps 22, the gaskets l8 providing an effective seal to prevent escape of air.

The flexible diaphragm sheets l9 may, of course, be made of any other suitable material and they have a circular opening 23 within which there is mounted an inflatable latex or other elastic tube 24 secured in place by means of an inside frame member which may be made of rubber or other flexible material. This inside frame member is substantially T-shaped in cross sec- 25 preferably cemented between the two sheets l9.. The outer periphery of the tube is preferably cemented to the cross flange 26; although it is contemplated that it may be vulcanized on the tube so that the fin is integral with the tube. This arrangement prevents the tube from being blown out of the tube opening in the diaphragm due to the pulsatare thus mounted in ing pressure inthe respirator chamber.

manually operable inflating bulb 28 is attached to it by a tube 29.

back of the casing to supface l5 of the hood by Likewise, the tube 24 has an exhaust valve stem 30 through which air may escape when the valve is opened or depressed. The valve in stem 30 may also be like an ordinary bicycle valve.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that after a patient is inserted in the chamber and the body seal adjusted, the neck seal assembly is then applied by inserting it over the patients head with the tube 24 deflated. The frame is then fastened against the outer the hand operated clamps 22, Then the tube is inflated by repeatedly squeezing the bulb 28 so that the tube engages the neck of the patient to'make an airtight seal.

When the patient is removed the tube is deflated neck seal prising a pair of superposed flexible diaphragms 10 mounted in the respirator having an opening therein, a flexible frame member secured between the pair of diaphragms and having a flange projecting into the opening in said diaphragms; and an elastic, hollow, ring-shaped tube seated in the flange projecting portion of the frame and adapted to be inflated to fitsnugly around the neck of a patient.

2. A neck seal according to claim 1, in which the flexible frame member is substantially T- shaped in cross section with the stem of the T between the diaphragms and the upper cross part projects into the opening and to which the tube is secured.

LUDWIG SCHLOBOHM. ALVIN J. FARRAR. 

